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Wayne Sundmacher with American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania CEO, Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes on the day of his donation.

The following is an account of an auspicious meeting between Red Cross donor, Wayne Sundmacher, and Red Cross volunteers shopping for non-perishable food items at a BJ’s Club store in Hamilton, New Jersey. At the spur of the moment, Wayne stepped up to cover a substantial bill for Red Cross supplies to be distributed to residents affected by Superstorm Sandy in New York and New Jersey at the cash register.

He says:

After having spent four days without electricity or hot water, our lights came back on early Saturday morning. That’s just an inconvenience, and nothing compared to our friends who lost their home. My wife and I felt very lucky to have only lost some roof shingles, some food from our refrigerator and our electricity for four days.

As a State employee, I had some involvement in emergency management and was painfully aware of the plight of those left homeless by the storm. I was also aware of the great volunteer response by organizations like the Red Cross, and how they were endeavoring to meet the needs of thousands of people affected by the storm.

On Sunday morning November 4th, I was shopping at BJ’s Club in Hamilton, NJ, restocking perishable food items that we had lost during the power outage. I was surprised to find the aisles crowded with American Red Cross volunteers, scurrying about, collecting case after case of non-perishable food items. Their enthusiasm was inspiring, and I wanted to find some way to help, but also didn’t want to distract them from the important work they were doing.

American Red Cross Southeastern PA staff and volunteers shop for food and supplies at BJs in Hamilton, NJ on Nov. 4, 2012 on their way to Northern NJ and New York City

When I arrived at the check-out, I turned to find Red Cross volunteers with several flat-bed carts, waiting in line behind me. My only thought was, “What can I do to help?” Certainly, the volunteers weren’t set up top take a donation, so I did the next best thing. I approached the young man behind me, with an offer to pay for the first $100 worth of food items they rang up.

While I thought my $100 offer would go a long way, the very first case of food the Red Cross was purchasing rang up at $214. Sometimes, you just have to go with your heart, and not consider your wallet. Rather than try to split up the purchase, I just told the cashier I would pay the full cost of that case of food. I cannot tell you how good it made me feel, to know that food I had just purchased would be distributed to someone in desperate need, that very day. And the cost? Well, that’s a couple less dinners out, and a few weeks without doughnut shop coffee. I think that’s pretty easy to bear. – Wayne Sundmacher

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Here’s a link to a great post on Wayne’s Facebook page where he challenges friends to make a donation of their own to help the efforts of the American Red Cross in New Jersey.

We are incredibly touched by his generosity and second him in encouraging others to follow his example. Thanks Wayne!

By the way, over the course of the weekend of November 3-4, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania sent 17 teams of volunteers to New York City and Jersey City to distribute food and and water. In all, our teams distributed more than 48,000 food items and 20,000 bottles of water to residents in New York and Jersey City. (More photos here. Scroll to second half of set to see the store and distribution pictures.) This was just a small part of the large-scale response by the American Red Cross to Superstorm Sandy.

I’m a Jersey girl, grew up in Jersey City with a view of New York City from the park down the street from my family’s home. Family and friends either helped build, worked at or were part of the rescue and clean-up at the World Trade Center. I even attended the very first gala in the beautiful Windows of the World.

I was busy packing for my move to Philadelphia from New Hampshire which would take place on September 14th, Friday, but first there was Tuesday. There were lots of phone calls and sadness that Tuesday. I still was making my move on Friday and I remember the car ride was fast until we reached the Tappan Zee Bridge, then it seemed like time stopped. Down the Hudson was a dark cloud of smoke just laying over New York. The scene was chilling and to this day the memory is crystal clear with all the emotions I felt that day.

I remember asking God what can I do.

After getting settled in Philadelphia, I visited family and friends of those lost or injured. I then went to a temp work agency seeking employment. The agent said they had a temporary assignment at the American Red Cross helping with processing after 9/11. I looked up and said “I got the message” and when I reported for the assignment I told everyone that would listen that I was not leaving at the end of the assignment.

During the days following 9/11, I did more than I could imagine at SEPA Chapter. So much more than answering phones and recording data. I spent some early mornings collecting money in front of City Hall and I remember the cabbies stopping and donating their tips from the night before. I went to lunch rooms in office buildings in the counties surrounding Philadelphia to leave materials and collect not only donations but names of new volunteers, (everyone wanted to help in some way). While walking to and from SEPA Chapter wearing Red Cross gear, I remember people in their cars would beep their horns and yell thank you or want to give you a donation. Just seeing my coat was enough.

Now, eleven years later, family and friends are still recovering from the mental and physical scars of that Tuesday. Me, I’m still at the Red Cross.

-Cathy Castrovilly
is a full time executive assistant to the Chief Development Officer at the American Red Cross of Southeastern PA. She never did leave after her temp position ended.